I get it. You’ve spent the last several months in accounting and audit classes preparing for finals. You feel like you deserve some time off, even though you don’t have a job. But, don’t take a break! There are many other recent grads looking for positions. If you take a few months off, you will fall behind the pack and possibly miss out on the ideal opportunity. Instead, make finding the right position your job this summer. That means:

Getting ready for a job interview takes work. But, before you pick up your suit from the dry cleaners or Google Map your directions, make sure you have a follow-up plan ready. The reality is employers expect follow-up after an interview. Yet, surprisingly, only 45% of job candidates take the time to reach out post-interview. Don’t make the mistake of skipping the post-interview follow-up.

For many people, building a professional network is difficult. For people working in temporary positions, it can be even harder. Often, assignments do not last long enough to naturally build relationships or get to know people. Furthermore, other employees know you are there for only short periods of time and frequently don’t make the effort they would with a new full-time hire.

Certified Public Accountants don’t just maintain financial records and analyze numbers. In our current challenging and dynamic economic climate, CPAs are needed to make sense of increasingly complex financial transactions -- from buyouts to grappling with changing tax laws.

When you look at your colleagues that enjoy the most success, chances are they have one thing in a common: a positive reputation. Whether you are in your first job or at the high point of your career, your reputation in the workplace can either help or inhibit your success. Professionals who put effort into building a positive workplace reputation often enjoy better assignments and more opportunities for advancement.